Australian High Commission
Colombo
MEDIA RELEASE
_____________________________________________________________________
18 January 2010
Australia supports sports development in Trincomalee and Seenigama
Australia supports sports development in Trincomalee and Seenigama
The Australian High Commissioner Kathy Klugman on 22 December 2009 announced funding of approximately Rs 3 million (AUD 30,000) for two local organisations, through the Australian Government’s Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) Sports Development Grant, for rural sports development programs. The grant aims to provide funding assistance to targeted small-medium size community sport development projects in predominantly Commonwealth countries.
OfERR (Organisation for Enhancement of Relief and Rehabilitation) based in Trincomalee is a humanitarian organisation working for community development projects in four districts in Sri Lanka. Educational programs are OfERR’s main area of focus. OfERR will receive AUD 15,000 for a project titled ‘Sports for children in war and tsunami affected area - Trincomalee Zone". The project will equip 40 schools in the Trincomalee educational zone to commence sporting activities. The project will focus on training sports coaches; preparation of manual on sporting guidelines; provision of sporting equipment and organisation of zonal sports events. The project will benefit 4,000 students.
Foundation of Goodness based in Seenigama works to improve the lives and livelihoods of 25 villages by providing holistic support in the form of housing, infrastructure, health care, education, sports, skills development and culture preservation. The Foundation will receive AUD 15,000 for a project titled ‘Sports for Life: Rural Cricket Development’. The project aims to uplift lives of rural youth by providing access to sports coaching, training and life skills at the Seenigama Sports Academy. In addition, to the physical activities beneficiaries will also receive assistance with mental development, nutrition and personal development.
The Australian Sports Outreach Program (ASOP) has been operating since 2006 and is managed by the Australian Sports Commission. Its goal is to increase capacity to deliver inclusive sports based programs that contribute to social development.